Over 25,000 old home appliances recycled in 2025 through EcoVoucher Program

Over 25,000 old home appliances were collected for recycling during 2025 through EcoVoucher Program, including 12,018 refrigerators and 13,546 washing machines. These were replaced with new, energy-efficient equipment, which allowed families to record significant savings in electricity consumption and pay lower bills.

According to data from the National Center for Sustainable Energy (CNED), from the launch of the program to date, 40,033 large home appliances have been collected and recycled, including 19,000 refrigerators and about 21,000 washing machines.

The appliances handed over by beneficiaries are collected directly from homes by the partner retail chains of the EcoVoucher Program. After collection, the equipment is taken over by five authorized operators and then sent to authorized European centers in Romania. Once they reach the partners, the appliances go through a rigorous recycling process, in line with environmental standards.

“The components of the used appliances are separated – plastic, metals, glass – and recovered for the manufacturing of new products. Refrigerants are treated in a special way to prevent air and soil pollution, so old refrigerators no longer pose a threat to the environment,” highlighted CNED director Ion Muntean.

Since the launch of the program, over 2,000 tons of waste from used appliances have been collected through the EcoVoucher Program. In 2025 alone, approximately 70% of the equipment that reached the country’s waste electrical and electronic treatment centers was collected through the EcoVoucher Program.

“At this center, 400 tons of electrical and electronic equipment are stored, of which approximately 70% comes from the EcoVoucher Program. Only by handing devices over to authorized operators are all components, including hazardous ones, recycled, and the goods gain a new life in the form of products that will once again be used by people,” said Denis Macovschi, environmental protection specialist at the NGO PRO REP UP.

CNED stressed that replacing old, high-energy-consuming appliances with modern models generates annual savings of about 8 million kWh, equivalent to approximately 30 million lei. The annual savings generated by the equipment purchased in 2025 alone are estimated at about 5.4 million kWh per year. According to estimates, the reduction in electricity consumption has had a significantly positive impact on the environment, leading to a reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by approximately 2,825 tons in 2025.

“EcoVoucher has a major social impact by encouraging responsible consumption, contributing to increased awareness regarding energy efficiency, and promoting the purchase of sustainable appliances. At the same time, EcoVoucher demonstrates that responsible recycling and energy efficiency can go hand in hand. By handing over old equipment to authorized centers, citizens contribute to environmental protection, the reduction of refrigerant emissions, financial savings, and the development of a sustainable green industry,” emphasized Muntean.

The 2025 edition of the EcoVoucher Program was supported by Norway with a budget of almost 7.5 million euros.

“We are pleased to see that the EcoVoucher Program generates concrete results not only for households, but also for the environment. By responsibly collecting and recycling old appliances, the program helps reduce waste, prevent pollution, and promote a sustainable consumption model. The impact of this joint effort is becoming visible day by day and supports the Republic of Moldova’s transition to a greener economy,” said Christian Borchard, implementation manager in the E4M project within GIZ.

The Home Appliance Voucher Program was developed by the Government of the Republic of Moldova with financial support from the European Union. This edition of the Home Appliance Voucher Program is implemented by the National Center for Sustainable Energy within the project “Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for Moldova” (E4M). E4M is a project implemented by GIZ together with the Government of the Republic of Moldova, financed by the Government of Germany and co-financed by the European Union, Norway, and Denmark. The current edition of the Home Appliance Voucher Program is funded by Norway.

CNED data show that the EcoVoucher Program has exceeded 40,000 beneficiaries nationwide in two years. Families included in the Program received vouchers of up to 6,000 lei to replace their old appliances with new, energy-efficient ones. This has allowed them to reduce energy consumption, pay lower bills, and direct the freed-up resources to other household expenses.